Multiunit tank car



@ma 2p wm MULTIUNI T TANK CAR Filed Sept. l5, 1926 2 Sheebh-Shee'l'. 2

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application tiled. Iadepte:uiter This invention l:relates to improvement-s in multiple unit tank cars for the transportation ot liquids, and particularly liquids transported under pressure, such as liquefied gases.

ln the transporttation ot' such gases as liquefied chlorine, it has heen customary to use containers or drums of one-ton capacity or less, these drums being specially constructed to withstand high pressures. 'llhese drums are sometimes secured tothe car hody so that the latter is classified as a tank car lout litteen tons ot chlorine is now fined hy the Bureau of lilaplosives as the maximum amount of chlorine that may he thus shipped, either in multi-unit tank cars or those of the single tank type and consequently t-he cost of transportation is high because the car is not loaded to the ordinary normal load of a freight car..

'liank cars with a single tank are unsatisfactory tor the shipment oit liquefied gases, and particularly chlorine, because in order to comply Wit-lathe tank car speciheations now in eldest, the tanks must he anchored trom the centen llhis necessitates riveting a casting to the hottom yot the tank and the rivets are' quickly attacked hy gases of a corrosive chan vacter Sometimes a plate or apron is placed on the inside ot the tank over the rivetheads lout this requires a long longitudinal Weld in the most vital part ot' the tank so 'far as strength is concerned and the tank is undoubtedlliyweakened.

so the provision ot insulation around the' tanks involves the use ont molded cork material which is removed only with ditliculty when the tank is to he inspected and this makes inspection an erpensive operation. 'lhe transportation oit liqueed gases in a tank car ot this description is consequently nensive and attended hy considerahle risk..

er ince tank cars employed tor the transportation ot liquefied gasesk are ordinarily constructed tor this one purpose only, it is desirahle that the cars used should he capahle ot transporting the maximum quantity ol the material `with the inanimum safety, and the car of the present invention is so constructed and arranged that much greater quantities of the gases can he shipped than has heretofore heen possible andthe shipment may he made `with entire safety. ln view of the' large weigh ts carried, the present car has heen especiallystrengtheued at the points Where the greatest strains are encountered, andthe tanks lh, i926. Serial llo. Ildlitl.

vand their umountings are construct/ed` so that although they carry a quantity of gases having a weight in the aggregate at least equal to the minimum car-load tonnage, these tanks lili are securely held in position and 4mounted in such a Way thatinjury to the tanks and strains, which might result in leakage in an ordinary construction, are avoided. Jlceordingly, the'capaeity of the present ear is utihzed to hest advantage and the cost ot transporting the gases is greatly reduced.A l1`urthermore, the individual tanks are so constructed that their contents may he remo-ved either in gaseous or liquid form and the connections are suc-h that the several tanks may he emptied simultaneously or one at a time.

lin that construction of the car which is .now considered preferable, the hody or trame et the car has a length suilicient to support tour tanks, each oit which is large enough to hold Z1/2 tons ont liquid chlorine. rlhese tanks may he upright cylindrical tanks, but are preferably ot spherical form since the spherical tank is much lighter and stronger 4 than a cylindrical tank of the same capacity..

l car ot' standard size carries tour such tanks and they are mounted in a rovv extending lengthwise otthe car, each tank losing suhported ahove the level ot the car hody. The latter, in one construction, includes'a central longitudinal girder and cross heams, and each tank is mounted on a support, the Weight ot which is taken .hy the girder and a pair ot these loeams,

'llhis support comprises a cradle memloer which is preferably continuous and in the form of a ring having an. inclined tace con- `harming to the contour ot' the tank surface with which it engages. This cradle member is supported on a plurality ot vertical legs which are in turn connected hy a ring at their .lower ends, the ring resting on the trame inemhers of the ear loody and `being secured thereto in any suitahle mannen Preterahly the cradle member, the legs, and the ring are ot" integral construction and the ring has a channel in its upper surface so that afterthe tank has heen placed on it, calking` material, such as molten lead, may he run into the chan- (nel, thus insuringfthat the tank is rmly titi is secured tothe body by stay bolts. Preferably these stay bolts extend from lugs on the upper clamping ring to similar lugs on the cradle member, andl when a spherical tank is used the stay bolts are of curved vshape and are pivotally mounted at their lower ends so that they will readily conform to the wall ot the tank when drawn taut.

y Each tank is supported on its cradle with its lower end spaced Vfrom the top level ot the body and insulatingmaterial may be used to enclose each tank, a portion of this material lying between the lower end of the tank and the body. A heavy plate is laid on the body before the cradle is kplaced in position and this plate supports the insula.- tion and alsopermits the. cradle to be secured thereto, the cradle thus being riveted at a plurality of points instead of to the frame members only of the car. The insulating material is enclosed within a housing and may be granular in form so that it is readily removed when inspection is to be made. The housing is provided with openings through which access may be had to the stay bolts so that the latter may be readily reached. Each tank has an opening at its top with thev usual dome and cover within which are the control valves for the outlet pipes. These may be in duplicate, extending to the bottom of the tank for the removal of the contents as a liquid, or one may terminate above the normal liquid level so that the contents may be withdrawn as a` gas. The several outlets may be connected by mains eX- tending lengthwisel ot the car, and running boards are mounted on the tanks so that the valves are readily accessible.

The car may also be arranged for the use of compressed air for removing the contents of the tanks in extremely cold weather when the natural pressure of the gas is not sutilcient to secure rapid discharge. The air used for this purpose must be free of moisture and the car therefore is provided with a drying cylinder connected to one of the mains, the cylinder containing a drying material such as calcium chloride which absorbs moisture from the air being led into the tanks.

For a better understandingr of ,the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which y Fig.. 1 is a view in Vside elevation and partly in section, showing a standard car carrying four spherical tanks.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the car with parts shown in section, as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the means for securing a tank on its cradle in side elevation,

Fig. 5 is a. view similar to Fig. 3, but, showing a tank oi generally cylindrical form, and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through one Side of the cradle showing the channel tor the calking material. l

In these drawings the car body is shown as made up ol' traine members which include a central box girder 10 and cross beams 11. The cross beam 12 at thel end of the' group is braced by means of angle beams 13. The central girder is of increased depth at the middle ot the car, in accordance with the usual pracs tice. This car is arranged to carry tour tanks,

each of which is to contain 71/2 tons of liquid chlorine. The middle tanks are supported on cradles which lie above a pair of cross beams and each end tank lies directly above the end cross beam 12 which is of greater strength than the intermediate cross beams. The weight of the tanks is thus distributed throughout the length of the car, so that no parts of the earstructure are subjected to undue strains.\A

Each tank 14 in the car shown in Fig. 1 is of spherical form, having an opening 15 at the top, and the tank is mounted on a continuous cradle member 16 (Fig. 6). This cradle inember may take the form of an inclined ring, the face of the ring conforming to the slope ot the tank wall and the ring is supported on standards or legs 17, a number of which are employed. These legs at their lower ends are connected by a flat ring 18 lying on a plate 19 which forms a floor beneath the tank, and the ring and plate are then secured to the central girder and the cross beams by rivetsl or bolts 20. The cradle member or ring 16 is formed with a shoulder 21, providing a channel, and in mounting the tank on the cradle member the tank is placed in position and then the channel is filled by means of calking material, as indicated at 22. For this purpose molten lead may be used, and this provides a firm seating for the tank without the necessity of accurate machining.

The tank is held in position in its cradle by means of an u per clamping ring 23, which has an inclined ace resting against the tank wall. This clamping iing is secured to the body of the car, preferably by means of stay bolts 211, which are secured to lugs 25 extending outwardly from the cradle member 16. The stay bolts are curved to conform to the curvature of the outer wall of the tank and at its lower end each stay bolt is pivotally mounted, as by means oi a hinge pin 2G, suitably secured between spaced lugs 25. At its upper end the stay bolt passes through the lug 23 and its exposed end carries a nut and lock nut generally indicated at 27.

With this construction the weight of the tank and its contents wedge the tank firmly into the seat provided by the cradle and the tank is further held in position by means ot the clamping ring and stay bolts. The tank is thus secured against swaying and shifting and an unusually secure mounting is obtained. The tank lies with its lower end spaced from the floor plate 19 and surrounding the tank and occupying the space between its lower end and the floor plate isa mass ot insulation 28. This insulating material is enclosed in a metal housing 29, whichextends up to the neck of the tank defining the opening 15. The contents ot the tank are thus protected against temperature changes which might develop dangerous pressures.

At its lower end the tank has a depression or sump 30, into which extends the outlet pipe 531, the uppei` end ot which is provided with a valve 32 connected by a pipe 33 to a main 34. This main extends lengthwise of the car and is provided with expansion bends 35. The main has a suitable outlet connection, as at 36, to which a draw-oft pipe may be connected. The outlet pipe 31 provides a means t'or withdrawing thecontents of the tank in liquid form. Another outlet pipe 37, permit- Elli:

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ting the contents Ato be withdrawn as a gas, terminates above the normal liquid level. lt is provided with a valve 38 and an outlet pipe connected to the' main 39 similar to the main 84. The valves lie within a dome or housing 40 which may readily be removed to permit access to them. On top ot the tanks and ex' tending lengthwise thereof on either side of the domes, are running boards 41, provided with railings 42. At the ends these ruiming boards have ladders 43 leading down to the floor of the car.

Tn the construction illustrated in F ig. 5, the tank 45 is ot cylindrical form having an opcning 46 at its top with the usual dome 47, the

loutlet connections and valves not being shown. This tank is supported on a cradle member ot a construction similar to that previously described. The upper ring 48 of the cradle member has outwardly extending lugs 49 in which the lower ends ot the stay bolts 50 are secured. Preferably the bolts are threaded into the lugs and the lower ends upset to form rivet heads. Each tank is provided with a elamping ring 51, which has a portion resting on the vertical side wall of the tank and another part which overlies the inclined head ot the tank. .This clamping ring is provided with a plurality ot lugs 52 which lie directly above the lugs 49 and the stay` bolts extend between lugs and at their upper ends are provided with nuts and lock nuts 53. lln order to afford access to the lugs l'or adjustment, the sheathing ot insulation is y providedwith an opening closed by a plug 54.

This opening lies directly above the end ot the stay bolt and by removing the pluvP a tightening tool may be inserted. Il similar construction may be provided' in connection with the spherical tank construction, if desired.

lin order topermit thc use ot' compressed air to assist the natural pressure of the gas within the containers in the removal of their contents, the car may be provided with an air dryer generally designated 55. This dryer is in the form oit a cylinder mounted at any convenient point on the car :trame as at the middle and in the angle between a. pair ot tanks. This dryer is arranged for ready inspection and filling with the drying material and may comprise a steel cylinder 56 having a flanged top 57. Bolted vto the top is a cover 58 provided with a gasket 59 so that the joint between cylinder and cover may be made tight. The drying material such as calcium chloride is held in a basket 60 which has a flange at its upper end by which it may be secured to the cover, a gasket being placed between the cover and the flange ot the basket to make a tight joint. The basket is oli less diameter than the enclosing cylinder and also of less length. lits bottom is perforated and in the side wall of the cylinder 56 near the top is an air inlet pipe 61, the air flowing down in the annular space between the basket and the cylinder, then up through the basket and out through an outlet 62 in the cover. The inlet pipe 61. may be connect-ed to any suit-able source of compressed air which passes through the dryer and is freed of moist-ure. The outlet pipe 62 is connected by a union 63 to a pipe 64 leading to the main 39, which leads to the tank outlets 37 terminating above the normal liquid level. lil valve 65 permits control ot" the flow ot' air. The cover 58 ot' the dryer is provided with an eye 66, and when the dryer is to be charged, the cover bolts are unloosened, and the cover with the basket litted oft the cylinder, the basket then being freed from the cover by removal of its holding bolts.

lt will be seen that with this car a quantity ot liquetied gases equal to the minimum carload tonnage may be transported and thus the capacit-y of the car is utilized to a. much greater extent than is the case with the cars on which only fifteen one-ton drums are mounted. The tanks, while normally torming a permanent part ot the car, may be readily removed for repair, if necessary, by removing the sheath-ing ot' insulation and releasing the stay bolts. The filling and discharge ot the tanks is a simple matter since each tank is provided with means tor discharging the contents either as a gas or a liquid, and these connections leadto a main by which all ot the tanks may be filled or emptied. in one operation. Vhile the. cylindrical tank is suitable tor many purposes. ll

refer to employ the spherical tank. since 1t may be made stronger and has a. greater capacity than a cylindrical tank et the same weight.

l claim:

1. Tn a car of the type described, the combination ot a. body, a plurality ci tanks mounted at different points lengthwise oi the body. means for supporting each tank coinprising a continuous cradle member extendleu lll() illlttt y body, means Jfor support-ing each tank comprising a continuous ring extending around the lower end of the tank and carrying the tank, a plurality of legs supporting the cradle member and mounted on the body, and means secured to the upper end of the tank tor holding the latter in position on the cradle inemN bei'.

3. In a car of the type described, the combination of a body, a. plurality ot' tanks mounted at different points lengthwise of the body, means for supporting each tank comprising a. ring extending around the lower end of the tank and carrying the tank, a plurality of legs formed integral with the ring and mounted on the body to support the ring, and means secured to the upper end ot the tank for holding the latter in place on the cradle member.

4. Ina car of the type described, the combination of a body, a plurality of tanks mounted at different points lengthwise of the body, means for supporting each tank comprising a pair ot rings one secured to the car body and the other supporting the lower end of the tank, legs extending between the rings, and means secured to the upper end of the 'tank for holding the latter in place on the upper ring.

5. In a car of the type described, the combination of a. body, a plurality of tanks mounted at differentpoints lengthwise of the body, means for supporting cach tank comprising a continuous ring having a channel formed in its upper surface, calking material filling this channel, the tank resting on the ring and the calking material, a plurality of legs supporting the ring and mounted on the body, and means secured to the upper end lof the tank for holding the `latter in place on the cradle member.

6. In a car of the type described, the combination of a body, a plurality ot tanks mounted atdiiierent point-s lengthwise ot the body, means for supporting each tank comprising a continuous cradle member extending around the lower end of the' tank and carrying the tank, a plurality of legs supporting the 'crad'le member and mounted on the body, and means secured to the cradle member and the upper end of lthe tank for holding the latter inplace on the cradle member.

7. In a car of the type described, the combination of a body, a plurality of tanks mounted at different points lengthwise of the body, means for supporting each tank comprising a continuous cradle member extending around the lower end of the tank and carrying the tank, a plurality of legs supporting the said cradle member and mounted on the body, a clamping ring resting on the upper end of the tank, and means connecting the cradle member and the clamping ring for holding the tank in position on the cradle member.

8. In a car of the type described, the combination of a body, a plurality of tanks mounted at different points lengthwise of the body, means for supporting each tank comprising a continuous cradle member extending around the lower end of the tank and carrying the tank, a plurality of legs for supporting the cradle member spaced above the car body, inca-ns secured to the cradle member and the upper end of the tank for holding the latter in place on the cradle member, insulating material enclosing the tank and' the securing 35 means, and means tor giving access to the securingmeans through the insulating material to permit the adjustment of the securing means.

9. In a car oi the type described, the combination of a body, a plurality of spherical tanks mounted at different points along the body, separate means on the body receiving the lower end ot each tank for supporting the lat-ter, and means engaging the upper end of each tank for holding the latter in place.

10. In a car of the type described, the combination of a body, a plurality of cradle members along the body, a spherical tank supported on each cradle member above the level 10o of the body, and means engaging the upper end of each tank for securing it against movement in its cradle member.

11. In a car of the type described, a plurality of spherical tanks disposed at different points along the body, a cradle for each tank including a plurality of legs supported at their lower ends on the body and secured thereto, and a. plurality of stay bolts secured at one end to the body and at the other end to the upper end of the tank.

12. In a car of the type described, a plurality of spherical tanks disposed at different points along the body, a cradle member for each tankv secured to the body and supporting 1X5 thelatter above the level of the body, a sheathing enclosing each tank, and insulating material between the tank and the sheathing and under the tank.

13. In a car of the type described, a plurality of spherical tanks at spaced points along the car body, a cradle for each tank comprising a ring secured to the body on which ring the tank is seated. another ring encircling the uppe;` end of each tank and a plu- 'rality of stay bolts extending between the rings and pivotally secured to one ring.

1l. In a car of the type described, the combination of a body, a plurality of spherical tanks disposed along the bodv. a support for M0 to the main through which Ell dll

:tenante each tank cnmprising a ring on which the tank rests, a ring encircling the tank near its upper end, lugs extending outwardly from the rings, stay bolts connecting the lugs, and a plurality of legslsecured to the body and supporting the lower ring..

l5. ln a car of the type described, the combination oit a'body, a tank mounted thereon, a discharge pipe for the tank having its inlet end below the normal liquid level in the tank, an inlet for admitting air under pressure to the tank above the norm l liquid level, and a dryer connected to the nlet through which the air admitted to the tank passes.

16. llnla car ol the type described, the combination oit' a body, a plurality ot tanks mounted thereon, a discharge pipe for each tank having its inlet end below the normal liquid level in the tank, an inlet for each tank tor admitting air under pressure into the tank above the normal liquid level, a main connecting the air inlets and a dryer connected the aii` passes in its How to the main. y

17. ln acar ot the type described, the combination ot a body, a plurality 'of tanks mounted thereon, a discharge pipe for each tank having its inlet end below the normal liquid level in the tank,an inlet for `each tank :lor admitting air under pressure into the tank above the normal liquid level, a main eonnecting the air inlets, a dryer connected to the main through which the air passes in its How to the main, and a valve between the main and the dryer. l

18. lin a car ot the type described the combination ot a body, a plurality oit tanks `bination of a body,

mounted at did'erent points lengthwise ot the body, means for supporting each tank comprising ar continuous cradle member extending around the lower portion of the tank and carrying the tank, a heavy plate firmly secured to the body, a plurality of legs supporting the cradle member and mounted on the plate, and means secured to thecradle member and the upper end of the tank for holding the latter in place on the cradle member.

19. ln a car of the type described, the coma plurality of spherical tanks mounted at di'erent points lengthwise of the'body, means for supporting each tank comprising a circular plate iirmly secured to the body, a plurality of legs supporting the cradle member and mounted on the plate, a clamping ring restingr on the upper end of the tank and means connecting the cradle member and the clamp ring for holding the' tank in position on the cradle member.

20. lln a car of the type described the com bination ot a body, a pluralityot sphericall vtanks mounted at different points lengthwise of the body, a heavy plate firmly secured to the body, means for supporting each tank comprising a cradle member, a plurality of legs supporting the cradle' member and mounted onfthe plate, insulating material resting on the heavy plate and covering they bottom surfaceof the tank, and means secured to the cradle member and the upper end ot the tank for holding the latter in place on the cradle member..

ln testimony whereof ll ait'x my Signature.

MAX MAURAN..

cradle member, a heavy,

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